Running: Fit way to start Super Sunday

Sunday

Dec 30, 2012 at 6:00 AM

John Conceison Running

Some of our activities for Super Sunday depend on who wins the AFC Championship. If it’s the Patriots, the parties frequently are stepped up. New England in the Super Bowl usually means the spread is beefed up on the T&G sports desk, nourishment for the many staff stories coming our way that night.

Regardless of Belichick’s best progress in January, Worcester has a quality running event to celebrate Super Sunday. The first Super Sunday Run will take place Feb. 3 on the customary 5K Central Mass Striders course at Worcester State University, beginning at 11 a.m.

The route is the same used for the weekly CMS races on Saturday mornings. It is a loop course that is mostly flat and fast. There is one downhill just before Mile 1 and one very small hill just after 1.75 miles, but the rest is flat.

While the usual Saturday races are conducted by CMS, this one is under the auspices of Superhero Events, which is co-owned by former CMS team standout Heather Gardiner, who moved to New Jersey about nine years ago. Superhero Events has enjoyed success in the Garden State with its 4-mile Super Sunday event in Morristown, and a Feb. 3 race has been added in Somerville, N.J. The organization has put on a half-marathon each May since 2010.

The CMS touch for this race, however, will remain — club runner/coach/volunteer extraordinaire Barbara McManus is race director, and club volunteers will be on hand.

Plus, we’re more likely to be in more of a Super Bowl mode than those in Jersey, whose Giants could well be on the outside looking in after today’s regular-season finales. While the runners will continue to turn out, chances are good that Superhero Events had more football spirit surrounding last year’s race in Morristown.

“This is their race but I’m running it up here for them,” McManus said. “They wanted to branch out. Heather has had some successful events, including Super Sunday, and we’ll see how things turn out here.”

This race has gathered enthusiasm slowly, but rarely has there been such an event in the first weekend of February, except for club races. The potential is there to awaken the Central Mass. running community from possible winter hibernation.

“We only got started in December, which is a little late in the game, but we’re hoping there’s still time and interest,” said McManus, who acknowledged early entries are “slow so far.”

“People around here don’t expect to have races in February,” she added. “It’s early in the year for New England. You can’t predict what the weather will be. But this is a good time to try to make good on New Year’s resolutions.”

McManus is hoping the event can attract novice runners, those who want to get in shape after the ever-fulfilling holidays, along with running community regulars.

She even has volunteered to work with anyone interested in shaping up for Super Sunday, meeting with them after the CMS weekly races, at about 10:15 a.m. at Worcester State on the Saturdays leading up to Feb. 3.

“We can start working with a mile or so, working our way to a mile and a half and so forth,” said McManus, the former New England Runner of the Year and USATF New England Grand Prix champion who spends much of her time coaching these days. “We can focus on the goal of running in the race, on the new runner, or anyone wanting to get back in shape.”

For more information on preparing for the Super Sunday Run with McManus, email her at barbaramcm@gmail.com.

As for the race, the entry fee is $25 until Jan. 25, $30 after that. Proceeds will benefit the Worcester State cross-country and track programs and the Central Mass Striders running teams.

Online and printed applications are available at superheroracing.com. The race will be using the Student Center at Worcester State, where race-day registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

There will be prizes for age-group performances and other categories. Long-sleeved wicking technical shirts are available, cut for male and female runners.

In early 2010, Andy Sharry kick-started a fledgling running club at the YMCA’s Central Community Branch on Main Street in Worcester. The program has prepared many successfully for events ranging from 5Ks to half-marathons to the full 26.2-milers.

As 2013 begins, he’s ready to expand vastly the group’s variety of sports. Let’s call it the multisport season.

The club now will be known as the Central Y Multi-Sport Team, covering preparations for triathlons along with road running, swimming, cycling, trail running and other cross-training activities.

Kickoff for the revamped conditioning club takes place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Central Y.